Hammock Camping in Storm Bert – A Wild Challenge (But Not Recommended!)
Introduction
On Saturday, 23rd November, Storm Bert was about to hit the UK, bringing heavy rain and winds exceeding 50mph. Naturally, I thought it would be a great opportunity to test my hammock camping setup in extreme weather—but let me be very clear:
⚠ I do NOT recommend hammock camping in a storm. It is dangerous.
⚠ High winds can bring down trees, cause injuries, and make sleep impossible.
⚠ This was an extreme test of my gear and experience, NOT something I’d advise others to do.
With that said, I wanted to see if I could stay warm, dry, and comfortable while hammock camping in a serious storm—so I headed out to give it a go.
Setting Up Camp in the Storm
I picked my spot carefully, setting up my DD Hammock between two sturdy trees, with a DD 3.5x3.5m tarp providing overhead shelter. Given the incoming storm, I reinforced my setup:
Multiple guy lines on every anchor point for extra stability.
Low tarp angle to shield from wind-driven rain.
Drip lines on suspension straps to prevent water from running into the hammock.
Bivvy bag and Arctic sleeping bag for warmth and protection.
I managed to get everything set up before the storm fully hit, but the winds were already picking up, and my tarp was getting battered.
Nightfall and Facing the Elements
As Storm Bert rolled in, the wind intensified. I got some water boiling for coffee and prepared my beef casserole with rice—which led to one of the first mishaps of the night:
🔥 Microwave rice + open flame = disaster.
I attempted to heat a microwave rice packet over the fire like a boil-in-the-bag meal. Big mistake—the flames burned straight through the bag, ruining my rice completely. Lesson learned.
A highlight of the night was spending time around the fire with GreenCraft, a well-known outdoor YouTuber. We exchanged stories, enjoyed the warmth, and embraced the wildness of the night.
Hammock Camping in 50mph Winds – Not a Good Idea
By 3:00 AM, Storm Bert really hit full force. Huge gusts shook the trees, making the hammock sway violently. I could feel the movement of the trees transferring directly into my setup.
By 5:00 AM, things were getting genuinely concerning. The winds had increased, and the trees I was attached to were moving significantly. This is exactly why I DO NOT recommend hammock camping in extreme weather—if a tree had come down, I could have been seriously injured.
Morning After: Gear Check & Pillow Hunt
When morning arrived, I was relieved to have made it through the night safely. I did a quick gear check, and overall, my setup had held up well:
✅ Tarp was still standing (with only one guy line coming loose).
✅ Hammock stayed dry thanks to good drip line placement.
✅ Sleeping bag & underquilt worked TOO well—I actually overheated at one point!
However, I did suffer one major loss… my inflatable pillow. At some point in the night, a gust of wind launched it across camp, sending me on an early morning quest to retrieve it. Miraculously, I found it intact.
Final Thoughts – NOT Recommended, But an Interesting Experience
While I made it through the night, I would NOT do this again in a full storm. Hammock camping in high winds is dangerous—falling branches, extreme movement, and lack of solid ground protection make it highly risky.
That said, the experience reinforced a few key wild camping principles:
1️⃣ Shelter first – A low, secure tarp is essential.
2️⃣ Warmth matters – But don’t overdo it. Wind doesn’t always mean freezing temps.
3️⃣ Secure your gear – Especially pillows…
4️⃣ Safety over challenge – Just because you CAN do something doesn’t mean you should.
Would I Recommend Hammock Camping in a Storm?
❌ No. Absolutely not. It’s too risky, and there are safer ways to enjoy extreme weather camping.
Would I hammock camp again in winter? Yes—but only in calmer conditions, where I could enjoy the experience without genuine safety concerns.
What Worked Well:
✔ Low tarp setup – Blocked wind and rain effectively.
✔ Underquilt & inflatable mat – Provided solid insulation.
✔ Fire setup – Made the night enjoyable despite the weather.
✔ Mental reset – Nothing beats stripping things back to basics.
What Went Wrong:
✖ Pillow went flying – Lesson learned: secure everything in high winds.
✖ Overheating in the sleeping bag – Wind doesn’t always mean freezing cold.
✖ Microwave rice over an open flame – Just… don’t.
Would You Try It?
Hopefully, the answer is NO! Hammock camping in a storm is dangerous—but if you’ve done it (or had a close call), let me know in the comments below.
Where to Buy Gear from This Trip
If you’re looking to get into hammock camping (in normal conditions), here are some of the key pieces of kit I used:
Purchasing through these affiliate links helps support the blog at no extra cost to you.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on one of my affiliate links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the blog and allows me to continue creating content. Thank you for your support!
Last night, as the UK was ravaged by Storm Bert I joined the infamous YouTuber @greencraft4783 and Hammock Camped in the woods. It was a long night with Storm Bert hitting us with 60mph winds from the south of England.